Mar 28, 2024  
2011-2013 Undergradate & Graduate Bulletin 
    
2011-2013 Undergradate & Graduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED PUBLICATION]

Occupational Therapy Assistant Major, A.S.


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The occupational therapist assistant helps individuals gain skills needed to become independent in daily living activities under the direction of and in collaboration with the occupational therapist. Students learn the therapeutic use of self-care, work, and play/leisure activities to maximize independent function, enhance development, prevent disability, and maintain health. The ultimate goal is to improve an individual’s quality of life and ability to perform daily activities.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is a 76-credit hour associate degree, which consists of a 29-hour foundation of liberal arts and sciences (50 percent of the USI University Core Curriculum) and 49 hours of occupational therapy assistant courses. Students take the 25-hour block of University Core Curriculum classes and then enroll in Occupational Therapy Assistant Program coursework to complete the 43-credit-hour didactic component and the six-credit-hour clinical component. In addition to classroom and laboratory hours, this degree includes 16 40-hour weeks of integrated practicum experiences. Full-time students can complete the Associate of Science Degree with a major in Occupational Therapy Assistant in five semesters and one summer. Graduates of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program are encouraged to continue their studies for a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Services with a concentration in Occupational Therapy Assistant.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220, phone: 301/652-2682. Graduates of this program are eligible to sit for the Certification Examination for the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant® administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will carry the title Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).

Admission Requirements

The prospective student must be accepted for admission to USI before completing a separate application to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. Admission to the University and completion of all core classes does not guarantee the student admission to the OTA program. Enrollment in the OTA program is limited and subject to a selection process. Student applicants also must show capability of fulfilling clinical practice requirements, eligibility for occupational therapy practitioner credentialing, and evidence of satisfactory health status. Note: A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s eligibility to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state practice credentials; contact the department for further information. For the most current admission information, call the department at 812/465-1140, email otinfo@usi.edu, or visit the Web site, health. usi.edu/acadprog/ota/index.htm.

University Core Curriculum Requirements (29 hours)

A1. ‑Composition/Speech

ENG 101 - Rhetoric and Composition I: Literacy and the Self  3 hours
ENG 201 - Rhetoric and Composition II: Literacy and the World  3 hours
  3 hours

B1. ‑Ethics

PHIL 201 - Introduction to Ethics  3 hours

B3.‑Health/Fitness

PED - Physical Education Activity Course 1 hour

C2.‑Individual Development/Social Behavior

PSY 201 - Introduction to Psychology  3 hours
SOC 121 - Principles of Sociology  3 hours

C3.‑Science

BIOL 121 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I  4 hours
BIOL 122 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II  4 hours
HP 115 - Medical Terminology For The Health Professions  2 hours

 

Note:


Occupational Therapy (OTA) Program

Program Entry Courses (PEC) allow students to take coursework before actually being admitted to the OTA program. Admission to the OTA program is required for a student to enroll in any of the OTA classes that are not designated as a * PEC class.

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